One thing that has bothered me greatly is that the high cost of ebook readers, would make illiteracy a big issue amongst the poor.

The One Laptop Per Child inventor has plans to create a very low cost ebook reader

http://www.xconomy.com/2008/05/20/negroponte-unveils-2nd-generation-olpc-laptop-its-an-e-book/

Its pretty, and inexpensive but also not e-ink

I don't think ebooks are ubiquitous enough to make the lack of an affordable reader an impediment to literacy. Paper still reigns. When we get to the point that ebooks are winning, the readers will likely be a lot cheaper.

They will get cheaper. Remember how much a DVD player cost ten or so years ago? Or a computer about twenty years ago? Those are just a couple big examples of how technology became cheaper, and in the process more widely adopted, over time.

Interesting, but I wonder how realistic, as this seems a huge swing from what they're currently doing - another story on it here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7411904.stm

It'll be interesting to see how its powered. Still, it'll give the e-book reader industry a major kick-in-the-pants. The cheap, micro-laptop class (i.e. EEE-PC, Cloudbook, ect.) was created as a result of the OLPC original initiative. I particularly like the folding concept. Fold it up and put it on the shelf, like a p-book.

Yes they do have to get cheaper.

Bu, as everything else, they will be cheaper, if and when, they break the ghetto they are into now, and begin to sell a lot, then people will use/buy more content (the actual eBooks) and thus competition between companies selling them will bring the prices down.

This moment, when everything they produce, at least Bokeen and Amazon, is immediately sold, do not expect low prices… at least if not, an out of the present group company does not begin the “race” by entering the market with a lower price model.

In a year, and if the hardware eBook market will not die of natural causes - it did happen with the first crop of dedicated eBook readers in the end of the last century/begin of this one - maybe we will see the begin of the lowering of the prices, or better, more powerful, and with bigger screen readers for the same price.

For the time being, one just as the opportunity of enjoying his/her eBook reader is one does have the money to be one of the early adopters.

Let's face it - reading for pleasure is a niche hobby. Very few of my friends or work colleagues are regular readers. I don't think eBook Readers are ever going to be "mass market".

If readers get to be cheap enough and the issues with eBooks and formats and whatnot get sorted, it's possible they may be mass market. But I think for that to happen, you might find they'll need to be more multi-function like a cell phones are these days.

Let's face it - reading for pleasure is a niche hobby. I agree, which is why the ebook market might in the end be driven by the education market. I don't know if OLPC can pull this off, but a dual page ebook reader that is also a clamshell laptop might be a breakthrough product.

Let's face it - reading for pleasure is a niche hobby. Very few of my friends or work colleagues are regular readers. I don't think eBook Readers are ever going to be "mass market".

They will if they are picked up by schools. The education market is the vast untapped market for eBook Readers. This is why the XO-2 will be marketed as an eBook Reader.

Dale

Its pretty, and inexpensive but also not e-ink

Doesn't matter... e-ink isn't the only thing people can read on. And if you get kids used to something early, including color LCDs, they won't give a hoot about e-ink when they grow up.

Doesn't matter... e-ink isn't the only thing people can read on. And if you get kids used to something early, including color LCDs, they won't give a hoot about e-ink when they grow up.

Very true.

The biggest problem I see is that the XO-2 is going to need to be as versatile as an EEE PC while being smaller, lighter, less power-consuming and yet also have a much *BETTER* display system. The EEE PCs are going for between $260 (2G models) and $560 (the ones with the bigger displays). I don't see the prices of the motherboards and the Pixel-Qi displays falling far enough to make it possible to sell them at that price in just two years.

Heck, even if they use a single display, between the display and the guts, the *COST* is going to be over $125-$150 per unit from the OEM manufacturer. Plus, Pixel-Qi is clearly in the "let's see what we can create" stage of display development. Cost per unit is much higher at that stage and that means anyone planning on receiving sample units can expect to pay a significantly higher price.

Do I see a two-screen ebook-reader/mini-pc coming out of this by 2010? Sure. But I don't expect we'll see something which can be given out almost as the "Cracker Jack toy" to children around the world.

Derek

Doesn't matter... e-ink isn't the only thing people can read on. And if you get kids used to something early, including color LCDs, they won't give a hoot about e-ink when they grow up.

I agree. But this gizmo (should it ever be produced) would fit the bill for the mythical all-in-one gizmo. Consider -

E-book reader (fancy with both sides of the book) - check
full blown computer (with lousy touchscreen - admittedly) - check
which implies -
music player
video player
clock (with alarm in software)
emulated game players

The only thing missing is cellphone/wireless internet connector, and GPS. (I assume there's be a USB port or two on it, and/or a removable flash reader of some sort.)

That's the great thing about "vapourware" of course - you can give it any capabilities that you wish :).

IF - and I do say IF rather than WHEN - the XO2 materialises, THAT will be the time to pass judgement on it - IMHO.

Doesn't matter... e-ink isn't the only thing people can read on. And if you get kids used to something early, including color LCDs, they won't give a hoot about e-ink when they grow up.From my own personal experience, I have to disagree. I've been around computers since before I was even born... my mother bought a Mac when she was six months pregnant. When most kids were drawing with crayons on paper, I was using clarisworks. And yet, now that I'm 22, I definitely find reading off of eInk to be a more "pleasant" experience than reading off of an LCD or any other self-lit display.

From my own personal experience, I have to disagree. I've been around computers since before I was even born... my mother bought a Mac when she was six months pregnant. When most kids were drawing with crayons on paper, I was using clarisworks. And yet, now that I'm 22, I definitely find reading off of eInk to be a more "pleasant" experience than reading off of an LCD or any other self-lit display.

Guess you just never "got used to it"!

...okay, you're right, preference is up to the user. But my point is, if you are exposed to something at an early age, you will be more inclined to be comfortable with it as you get older.

The other point I should have made is, if you want something bad enough... like being able to read and learn... you'll get used to the available tools and make do. When I was young (never mind how long ago!), I wanted to be able to edit documents on portable computers, so I, who grew up using Royal manual typewriters (and now you know how long ago!) got used to on-screen PDA keyboards, and for awhile, could stylus-type as fast as I could hunt-and-peck type.

Never underestimate the power of desire. Lack of e-ink won't hold those kids back.

Doesn't matter... e-ink isn't the only thing people can read on. And if you get kids used to something early, including color LCDs, they won't give a hoot about e-ink when they grow up.

...until they turn 40 and their eyes go bad. I speak from experience, as you may have guessed. It's not just that eInk is shiny tech, it's that it is easier on the eyes to read for long periods.

E Ink is nice, and maybe by the time they're really in design mode, the price will have fallen enough to be practical in a device like this. Or maybe E ink will have been replaced by something else by then, offering the same benefits of low power and a reflective, sunlight-readable screen, but with a faster refresh rate. In either case, I think the design looks good. I have family in the Peace Corps and it costs an incredible amount of money to ship books and paper to the places these devices would be needed most. I'm not saying this kind of project should take precedence over food and clean drinking water, but I think it could really help. Reading isn't just for pleasure, remember (though I think the importance of being able to read for pleasure is often under-rated).

...until they turn 40 and their eyes go bad. I speak from experience, as you may have guessed. It's not just that eInk is shiny tech, it's that it is easier on the eyes to read for long periods.

I guess I should just steer clear of all you LCD-haters! ;) I'll just add that you can get eyestrain reading anything (check out my photos sometime), and drop it (like a hot potato!).

So, back to topic: Personally, the "fold-up" part of the concept doesn't do anything for me... it's an extravagance, really, that just adds extra cost due to extra technological complication. If the idea is to make this device as cheaply as possible, it's better off having only 1 screen, and a simple interface surface... like a laptop, or even a tablet. I have to wonder what research, exactly, leads Negroponte to say that "the book experience is key." It would be nice if we at MR could be privy to this data...

I guess I should just steer clear of all you LCD-haters! ;) I'll just add that you can get eyestrain reading anything (check out my photos sometime), and drop it (like a hot potato!).

So, back to topic: Personally, the "fold-up" part of the concept doesn't do anything for me... it's an extravagance, really, that just adds extra cost due to extra technological complication. If the idea is to make this device as cheaply as possible, it's better off having only 1 screen, and a simple interface surface... like a laptop, or even a tablet. I have to wonder what research, exactly, leads Negroponte to say that "the book experience is key." It would be nice if we at MR could be privy to this data...

This, as are all olpc devices, is expected to be somewhat rugged. the fold up design protects the screen while transporting the unit, the same as a laptop by the way which is also foldup. The screen doesn't fold, there are two screens.

Dale

eInk would be nice-- but I had insomnia last night and was able to read on my Palm TX which I couldn't have done with eInk.

We need more readers in the $100 price range, as for many people $300+ is just too much money.

I guess I should just steer clear of all you LCD-haters! ;) I'll just add that you can get eyestrain reading anything (check out my photos sometime), and drop it (like a hot potato!).

So, back to topic: Personally, the "fold-up" part of the concept doesn't do anything for me... it's an extravagance, really, that just adds extra cost due to extra technological complication. If the idea is to make this device as cheaply as possible, it's better off having only 1 screen, and a simple interface surface... like a laptop, or even a tablet. I have to wonder what research, exactly, leads Negroponte to say that "the book experience is key." It would be nice if we at MR could be privy to this data...

Steve,

One LCD user here...and I have been well on the side of eink is not a panacea just yet. Of course I love the low energy aspect of eink as well as the wonderful ability to ready easily outside. I can read on my nx73v but it's not perfect still, I can do it for a while as though it's an antique it does have a transreflective display.

Personally I think that prototype concept image of the OLPC with dual display's is the ideal device...seriously. And fold-up is not any sort of tech overhead that does not already exist in Windows aas well as other OS's. All major commercial OS's support both extended and multiple display's. There might be some development overhead on the driver and software side, but really that is trivial and could be done in weeks if not days.

Notice on the OLPC dual display prototype images there is almost no gap between the display's when fully open so one could do things such as display diagrams/schematics or even larger aspects of software development. If you add something like bluetooth for an external and very portable folding keyboard one could do some amazing work on the road. Maybe we have become too married to the integrated keyboard in laptops and portable devices. I know if I had a device with wacom or simply touch screen with stylus input I would do a majority of my work w/o even touching a keyboard.

And the obvious benefit is also a dual display fits for technical and art books. Many books literially depend on being able to view two pages at the same time to convey the information it contains.

So, I am all for the idea of even just eink systems in their current state. Or even using the new displays with LED backlighting vs. the current florescent backlights which draw so very much power. LED backlighting might be the way to bridge the gap to low light reading on eink. Eventually tech will come along to make something like eink the standard and able to be read in the dark.

Anyway, I think we could easily have low energy, well made dual foldup display devices tomorrow if any company really put some effort into it...and all using existing tech. Heck, I even see a variation of a built-in keyboard that actually can stay in place for use when opened and operating in single display mode or removed for use as a BT keyboard in dual display mode.

As you might note, I have two LCD devices. I have them because I love to read in bed at night, I can read w/o bothering the better half even though she snores like a lumberjack loud enough to put a chain saw to shame so I can't sleep some nights. Not to worry she never reads this place, she will never know...hehehehe...and it is exactly that issue which keeps me from buying an eink reader. Well that and the whole contrast aspect. ;) Just know you are not alone in prefering LCD over eink... :2thumbsup

...until they turn 40 and their eyes go bad. I speak from experience, as you may have guessed. It's not just that eInk is shiny tech, it's that it is easier on the eyes to read for long periods.

Well past 40 here and eink is harder on my eyes then LCD by a long margin. 30-mins reading on eink and my eyes are done...hours and hours everyday on LCD and I am fine. Ya have to remember everyone is different and be open to the aspect that every one is very different and there is no one size fits all.

Personally I think that prototype concept image of the OLPC with dual displays is the ideal device...seriously.
For extensive typing, a touch screen is going to be worse than keys, but for something primarily used for reading, browsing, and others uses where occasionally hitting a button suffices, it will do.

Notice on the OLPC dual display prototype images there is almost no gap between the display's when fully open
There's some desktop multi-monitor setup where they manage no separation, by making the bezel transparent and maybe having it skew the lines underneath to fill the gap. I'd worry about the edge of the screens on the fold, however. I'd think there'd have to be some protective backing that covered the raw edge when folded.

Any idea I come up with is a waste of time, I know....but,

Both!

Make one screen eink and one screen lcd. The waste light from the LCD acts as a light on the e-ink for lighting in the dark (if you must use it in the dark.) Either one can be the screen and the other the touch keyboard, and you use the LCD for video and other color (and or high-speed) applications, while you use the e-ink side for reading (or the LCD side instead, if you prefer).